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@GreshamPolice
RELEASE DATE: June 4, 2024
CONTACT PERSON: On Duty PIO
CASE NUMBER: 24-11158
Gresham, Ore.— The suspect in a fitness center theft that led to a stolen car and subsequent credit card fraud was captured yesterday when he returned to the scene of the crime.
Gresham Police Community Safety Specialist (CSS) Ava Hansen took a report of a locker room theft that occurred on March 19. The suspect stole the victim’s wallet and keys from a gym bag in the locker room at the LA Fitness in the 700 block of NW Council Dr. The victim’s car was stolen from the fitness center parking lot and his credit cards used at a nearby retailer.
CSS Hansen followed up with LA Fitness and the retailer where the credit cards were used to collect witness statements and ensure available surveillance video was preserved and collected.
At approximately 7:15 p.m., yesterday, an alert LA Fitness employee called police after he recognized the suspect who returned to the gym requesting a day pass. Gresham Police patrol officers surrounded the gym and took the suspect into custody in the locker room. He had a pair of bolt cutters in his gym bag and the keys to a stolen Volkswagen Jetta in his pocket, along with a suspected stolen credit card and methamphetamine. The stolen Jetta with fraudulent temp tag was backed into a handicap spot near the entrance of the gym. A hand-pump window spreader, commonly used by locksmiths to help people locked out of cars, was found inside the vehicle as well.
“This case is a win for the CSS program, patrol, and the community,” said Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg. The CSS program was implemented just over a year ago to assist in the reporting of non-emergency crimes and free up patrol officers to respond to higher priority calls. “We believe it is important to solve crimes even if they are not emergencies,” Chief Gullberg added, “The CSS program is increasing our capacity to do just that.”
***Update***
Fernando Carrillo, 27, was lodged at the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) on suspicion of Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Identity Theft (3 counts), and Possession of Burglary Tools. He is facing additional charges from unrelated cases.
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